The Opelousas courier., 1887-06-04
CHRISTIE's NEW DRESS.

Pretty Christie Burgess, was the
daughter of the widow with whom
boarded. ] was a confidential friend oil
both mother and daughter and knew
that, like myself, they had known bet
ter days. Somewhere in California
there was an Unc.c Charles, Mrs. Bur-
gess's brother, who would keep them,
they were sure, had he known their cir
cumstances, but whose address they
could not tell. and who knew nothing OF
their having left their former handsome
home.
Some OF Mrs. BURGESS former friends
had visited her and ore of them, Mrs.
Wharton had sent Christie an invitation
toa party at her house. As soon as it
was positively decided that she could not
go, because o new evening dress could
not be thought Of, / resolved upon the
awful extravaganza Of presenting the
pretty girl with a dress.
II was worth it all to see Christie
when ] called lcr to my room on the
afternoon Of the cventful day and in
troduccd her to the fiery spread out
upon my bed.
81 have some jewels here, Christie, l
am going to lend you for this evening"
said /.
s'Oh, how pretty and how odlp she
cried. Were they made to order, Miss
Janeap
.sYesl They were a gift 10 mo seven
years ago, when I was your age,
Christie
She looked at me wistfulIy when we
we're alone, her ~soft-brown eyes qnes
tioning my face; but she asked no
questions and went down to her mother,
softly and thoughtfnlly.
Seven years before that night / had
been left N orphan, hopeless and heart
broken.
had no mother to share the grief, no
sister Or brother to Tighten IT. l was all
alone. was not a strong-minded girl
to face tho trouble, and so I shut myself
up alone until the funeral, refusing to
see even Charlie. Thea / ran away at
night. 4 had one friend in Cleveland to
whom I dared confide all, and / went to
her. wrote to Charlie and told him I
should never ask him to fulfil his VOWS
to mo and babe him farewell.
For days after I arrived 1T Cleveland ]
was utterly Frustrated; but my friend
wa6kind, rs / knew she would be, and
when i was able to think aided me in all
my plans. I had brought nothing from
home but tho one mourning suit / had
worn to The fuacral aud Charities car
bnncIes.
Mrs. Munroe had been an oil friend
IF my motaer's, and hal Wis ID Us more
than once, always urging ma to return
tic visits, bnt, unable to win my fathers
consent to part With me for SO long d
journey, FOR | was 1 thrso days railway
ride from my old home. As soon as !
was able 10 undertake teaching, Mrs.
Munroe exertel herself to procure me
scholars, and 7 soon hal q class that
paid ND an income sufficient for my
modest wants.
For six years I had a home in my
friends house, she alone knowing that
Miss jane Gray was the missing Ella
Thorno advertised BIZ her relatives, more
to save their II reputation than from
any interest ii her fate. / made, no
doubt, " nine days wonder ii A.,
and then my uncles, auats aud cousins
probably forgot my existerce. Charlie,
perhaps, was one Of those seeking me,
but 7 was resolved never to share my
fortunes with his.
When the death OF my friend and
henefactress was added TO my list of
soTrows, / was known enough in Cicve-
land 70 retain my scholars, and found 4
new home with Mrs. Burgess.
7 was still sitting with locked door,
brooding oyer the past, and unconscious
that Christie had been gone three hours,
when Hrs. Burgess canc to my room,
demanding admittance Id ali excited
voice. Iopened the door IL d
ss0h, Miss Janel Hiss JapaW she